google

Android users with unlocked bootloaders will soon be unable to use Android Pay. They are, as of this week, greeted by the message "we could not verify your software" when attempting to pay. This is because of a silent update to SafetyNet by Google. SafetyNet is a system that aims to stop modifications to software on Android devices. Today it would seem that Google has dropped the hammer.

Google's Wallpaper app is out for the public to download now, bringing Pixel power to the masses. This is the same software the Google Pixel uses for wallpapers, keeping it simple as it does so. Lock screens can also be set with this app, and new features appear on the newest version of Android.

Google's Pixel phone is the subject of two quite major misconceptions right out the gate. These misconceptions make it unclear how a user might be able to use their Google Pixel. They also make it unclear who it was, in reality, that made the device. Today we're going to clear a few things up with some facts.

The Google Pixel and Pixel XL are here, and in the afterglow of some positive reviews it's easy to get caught up in upgrade fever. Question is, when the halo wears off, are you going to be left with a smartphone headache for the next two years? We've already comprehensively reviewed the Pixel XL, but here's the low-down on why you should - and why you shouldn't - buy Google's new Android flagships.

Google Pixel XL's camera battles Samsung's Galaxy S7 in our first of several tests of the best. When the Galaxy S7 (and S7 Edge) first came out, they topped the quality charts for mobile cameras. Now several months old, the S7 family may need to make way for a new emperor of mobile photography in the Pixel.

Nexus phones have always represented Google's super-focused vision of the future of Android, but for 2016 the attention to detail is getting down to individual pixels. That's pixels, plural: two Nougat flagships, distinguished only by their size, the 5-inch Pixel and 5.5-inch Pixel XL. Each, for better and for worse, the purest embodiment of what Android is today and where it will go tomorrow.

The holiday travel season is nearly upon us, and Google Flights is looking to make it a little less stressful. Google announced today that Flights will now let you know when prices are expected to go up for some routes and flights. This will happen when you select a specific flight - now, you'll be presented with a new card that tells you how many days or hours you have left until the price is expected to increase, and how much the price is expected to jump.

Galaxy Note 7 owners who've turned their device in for Samsung's recall can turn to the Galaxy S7 for aid. While the Galaxy S7 isn't quite as powerful as its larger relative, it is capable of quite a bit. Samsung seems to be on board with this idea with $100 in credit for a new Samsung phone to Note 7 returners. Now they've begun bringing in software features, too.

Pokemon Go's most recent update has placed a new block on unsafe playing activities. One of the features we suggested should be in place from the start is now part of the game in a big way: a block on driving. This block on driving affects all players the game detects moving at 30 miles per hour or higher. Once the game detects a player moving too fast, all Pokemon spawns disappear.

Google Pixel's newest video advertisement was the subject of a parody this week. This parody showed features of Google's hero phone of 2014: the Motorola-made Nexus 6. This video used the same music as Google's newest ad spot as it pointed out how this phone has been abandoned. In this spot the Nexus 6 feels both awesome for still being high-end and crappy for having less-than-best specs.

Acer has decided that its time for a new entry in its Chromebook 15 line. Today the company announced a new Chromebook 15 model that offers longer battery life than its predecessors. Acer isn't wasting any time bringing the new Chromebook to market, either, opting to launch the new device today with standard $199 pricing.

There has been growing concern among Android power users regarding Google’s own Pixel smartphone. More than just the company’s first self-made smartphone, it also represented a new way of doing Android, at least for Google. Naturally, there has been talk about how the Pixel could be less open and less developer friendly than its Nexus ancestor. Fortunately, Google has put those fears to rest, confirming that the Google Pixel and Pixel XL will, in fact, have unlockable bootloaders, which means they can be rooted, but with some caveats.